Matrix for line-casting machine



Jan. 1, 1963 R. NAPOLITANO MATRIX FOR LINE-CASTING MACHINE Filed June 19, 1962 FIG?) FIG. I

FIG-4 INVENTOR LIBERATO R. NAPOLITANO FIGZ ATTGRNEYS United States Patent 71,242 MATRIX FOR LTNE-CASTING MACHINE Liberato R. Napolitano, Boston, Mass, assignor of fifty percent to Herbert C. Weisman, Holbrook, Mass. Filed June 19, 1962, Ser. No. 263,520 12 Claims. (Cl. 192-63) This invention relates to matrices used in line-casting machines such as Linotype and Intertype machines.

The life of type casting matrices is limited because their character recesses become scarred as the result of impact during the type-setting operation. Scarred character recesses produce hair lines in the material printed from type made on those matrices. In substantially all typesetting mechanisms in Linotype and Intertype machines the matrices are fed very rapidly one at a time to the assembler, and as each matrix assumes its position in the assembler it slides into position on the face of the next preceding matrix in the line. Several different schemes have been adopted to relieve the wear on the character recesses, such as special hardening of the matrices about the recesses and notching the bottom of the matrices, as typified in US. Patent Nos. 674,080 and 989,129. Such schemes proposed many years ago have proved to be something less than satisfactory and as a result they have not been permanently adopted and matrices have remained substantially unchanged for many many years. More recently the problem has been approached from another direction; namely, to alter the feeding mechanisms of line-casting machines so that the sliding contact between adjacent matrices in a line is eliminated. However, this solution does not benefit the owners of older machines which still have many years of useful life and which are so costly to replace.

One important object of this invention is to provide a type-casting matrix which when it slides along the face of the next preceding matrix in a line does not contact that matrix at its character recess. By eliminating contact between the character recesses of one matrix and the lower edge of the following matrix in a line, wear is substantially eliminated, and hair lines do not occur in the material printed from type made on the matrices so set.

To accomplish these and other objects the matrices constructed in accordance with this invention are provided with specially located recesses along their lower surfaces. The margins of the recesses slide along the faces of the next preceding matrix in a line so that all contact between the adjacent matrices at the areas of the character recesses is eliminated.

These and other objects and features of this invention along with its incident advantages, will be better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a type-casting matrix constructed in accordance with thi invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of two matrices suggesting the manner in which one matrix slides on the face of the next preceding matrix in a line as it is set in the assembler;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view taken along the sectional line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front view of a conventional "ice matrix and suggests in broken lines the changes to be made in its lower edge in accordance with this invention.

The matrix shown in FIG. 1 includes a body 10 having a pair of parallel sides ledges 12 and 14 each somewhat thicker than the central portion 16 of the body so as to define narrow shoulders 18 and 20 respectively at their inner edges. The upper part of the body 10 is notched with teeth in the normal manner, and a pair of cars 22 extend outwardly from the upper ends of the outer edges 24 and 26 of the ledges 12 and 14, respectively. Toes 22'; and 36' extend outwardly from the bottoms of the outer edges 24 and 26.

In its initial shape the ledges 12 and 14 extend downwardly to the plane of the lower edge 32 of the body 10, and each of the toes 28 and 30 also has an uninterrupted lower edge in the plane of the lower edge 32. Thus, when initially formed the lower portion of the matrix appears as shown in FIG. 4 which typifies the prior art. It will be noted in FIG. 4 that with the exception of the key 34 the lower edge 32 of the matrix is continuous without interruption from the outer edge of one toe to the other. In that figure the broken lines 33 suggest major changes to be made in the lower edge 32 of the matrix to incorporate the present invention into it.

The matrix shown in FIG. 1 is conventionally provided with a pair of character recesses 36 and 38 formed in side edge 24 of the ledge 12. At the base 40 of the recesses characters are engraved, which form the type slug later made from the matrice line. The primary object of this invention is to protect the matrice about the sides of the recesses 36 and 33 and particularly to protect the side edges of the bases 41).

The matrix thus far described is of conventional design and this description fits that of substantially all matrices used in line-casting. The matrix shown in FIG. 1 however, dilfers markedly from the matrices of the prior art by the introduction of the specially formed recesses 42 and 44- in its lower edge 32. The recess 42 formed in the lower edge 32 of the body at the bottom of the ledge 12 is defined at its inner side by a wall 46 lying outwardly of the shoulder 18. Thus, the inner side of the recess 42 is boarded by a narrow rib 48 which supports the matrix body 10 in a special .relationship on the face of the next preceding matrix upon which it slides. It will also be noted in FIG. 1 that the inner surface or wall 46 of the slot 42 lies inside the plane of the bases it) of the character recesses 36 and 38. Thus it will be recognized that the plane of the wall 46 lies between the planes of the shoulder 18 and the bases 4%. This arrangement is clearly illustrated in FIG. 3 to be characteristic of matrix 10B.

The outer side of the recess 42 is defined by a wall 56 which lies outwardly of the outer edge 24 of the ledge 12; that is, the wall 56 lies within the region of the toe 23. It will thus be seen in FIG. 1 that the breadth of the recess 42 is such that it spans the limits of the recesses 36 and 38 from the plane of edge :24 of the ledge 12 to the plane of the bases or bottom walls 40 of those recesses.

In FIG. 1 the face 52 of ledge 12 is provided with a bevelled surface 54 at its bottom, which efiectively increases the height of the recess 42 from the lower edge 32 of the body. The bevel 54 eliminates any sharp cor- U ners from the face 52 of the ledge 12 that may mar the face of the next preceding matrix in a row when the matrix slides upon the body of that preceding matrix. This will be more fully described below in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3.

The second recess 44 formed in the lower surface 32 of the body spans the entire width of the ledge 14 so that the inner wall 56 lies inside the shoulder 20 and the outer wall lies outwardly beyond the edge 26 of the ledge 14. The face 59 of the ledge 14 may also be bevelled as shown at 61 above the recess 44 to effectively increase the height of that recess in the same manner as employed in connection with recess 42. It may also be noted in FIG. 1 that the entire lower edge of the body may be bevelled or provided with a radius as suggested at 60 to eliminate sharp corners at the location of contact between matrices.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 I have suggested the manner in which one matrix as it moves into position in a line slides along the face of the matrix deposited in front of it. In FIGS. 2 and 3 matrix 1169A is disposed in place in the assembler and matrix BBB is moving toward its place in the line. The parts of matrix 10A are identified by their appropriate numbers and letter a, and the parts of matrix 3M3 are identified by their appropriate numbers and letter b. As the matrix NB moves to its position in the row its rounded corner 6% slides along the face 62a of matr ix 19A. As the two matrices are in lateral alignment, the shoulder 48b of matrix 10B slides along the inner edge of the rear surface 53a of the ledge 12a of matrix 10A. It is particularly evident in FIG. 3 that the slot 42b spaces the bottom of the ledge 12b from the surface 53a so that no contact occurs between any part of the matrix 10B and the periphery or margins of the character recesses 36a and 38a in the edge 24a of matrix 16A. Thus, contacts between the ledges 12a and 12b is rcstricted to the inner edge of the face 53a of ledge 12a and the rib 485 formed at the bottom of ledge 12b.

On the other side of the matrices the recess 44b spans the entire width of ledge 14a. As a result, upon impact of matrix 103 with matrix 10A, matrix 10B tends to tilt in the direction of arrow 64 (see FIG. 3) so that the bottom of wall 56!) engages the rear face 62a of the central portion 16a of matrix 10A, and the upper wall of the recess 42b is effectively moved further away from the surface 53a of matrix NA.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 the matrices are shown in their relative positions at the moment of impact and immediately thereafter pivoting of the moving matrix 10B occurs as suggested by the arrow 64. inclined wall 54b is shown. It will be noted that the inclined wall provides additional clearance above the character recesses 36a and 38a and they are in no way mutilated.

Having described my invention in detail those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous modifications may be made thereof without departing from its spirit. Therefore, I do not intend to limit the breadth of this invention to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, it is my intention that the breadth of this invention be determined by the appended claims and the equivalents.

What is claimed is:

1. In a matrix for a line-casting machine having a body with side ledges, toes, and character recesses in the outside edge of one of the ledges;

a first recess in the lower edge of the body and extending from outwardly of the inner edge of the toe on the ledge bearing the character recess to a position outwardly of the inner edge of that ledge,

and a second recess in the lower edge of the body and bridging the bottom of the other ledge.

2. In a matrix for a line-casting machine having a body with a side Pledge bearing a character recess In FIG. 2 the effect of in the outer edge thereof and a toe extending outwardly from that edge at the bottom of the body;

a recess extending fully across the lower edge of the body,

said recess having an inner marginal wall disposed outwardly of the inner edge of the side ledge and inwardly of the plane of the base of the character recess,

said recess having an outer marginal wall disposed in a plane beyond the plane of the outer edge of the side ledge.

3. A matrix as defined in claim 2 further characterized by a bevelled surface in the bottom of the ledge terminating in the recess.

4. A matrix for a line-casting machine comprising a body having ledges on each side thereof,

a character recess formed on the side edge of one of said ledges,

and means including a rib formed on the bottom of said one ledge and a recess formed in the bottom of the other ledge causing the bottom of said one ledge to tip away from the adjacent ledge of a like matrix when the two contact one another during setting.

5. A matrix for a line-casting machine comprising a body having a character recess formed on one edge thereof,

a rib formed on the body adjacent the bottom of said one side edge and inwardly of that edge beyond the depth of the character recess,

and means formed on the bottom of the body along the other side edge and urging the matrix to slide on its rib along the side of the body of the next preceding matrix inwardly of the character recess of said next matrix when the matrix is deposited in a line.

6. A matrix as defined in claim 5 further characterized by the lower edge of the body along its length being provided with a radius.

7. A matrix for a line-casting machine comprising a body having ledges on each side thereof,

a character recess formed on the side edge of one of said ledges,

and means formed on the bottom of the body and cooperating with the ledges causing the bottom of said one ledge to stand away from the side edge of a like matrix when the matrix slides on said like matrix during type-setting. V

8. A matrix for a line-casting machine comprising a body having a character recess formed on one side edge thereof,

and means including a rib formed on and extending fully across the bottom edge of the body adjacent the bottom of said one side edge and inwardly of the edge beyond the depth of the character recess for supporting the bottom of the body away from the character recess in the next preceding matrix as it slides on the side of the body of said next preceding matrix in a line during type-setting.

9. In a matrix for a line-casting machine adapted to slide along the face of a previously deposited matrix during type setting,

means including a rib formed in and extending fully across the bottom of the matrix adjacent its side edge adapted to engage the side of the face of the previously deposited matrix having a character recess for supporting the body of the sliding matrix away from the character recess.

10. A matrix as defined in claim 1 further characterized by beveled surfaces adjacent the bottoms of the ledges and terminating in the recesses.

11. In a matrix for a line-casting machine having a body with a side ledge bearing a character recess in the outer edge thereof and with a toe extending outwardly from that edge at the bottom of the body;

a recess provided in and extending across the thickness of the lower edge of the body,

said recess having an inner side wall disposed outwardly of the inner edge of the side ledge,

and said recess having an outer side wall disposed outwardly of the outer edge of the side ledge.

12. In a matrix for a line-casting machine having a body with a side ledge bearing a character recess in the outer edge thereof and with a toe extending outwardly from that edge at the bottom of the body;

6 a recess provided in and extending across the thickness of the lower edge of the body. said recess having an inner side wall disposed inwardly of the plane of the base of the character recess, and said recess having an outer side wall disposed outwardly of the outer edge of the side ledge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 989,129 Degener Apr. 11, 1911 

1. IN A MATRIX FOR A LINE-CASTING MACHINE HAVING A BODY WITH SIDE LEDGES, TOES, AND CHARACTER RECESSES IN THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF ONE OF THE LEDGES; A FIRST RECESS IN THE LOWER EDGE OF THE BODY AND EXTENDING FROM OUTWARDLY OF THE INNER EDGE OF THE TOE 